Author: Gulf News Week
Getty ImagesSmoke could be seen rising above the nature reserve on FridayFirefighters battled a wildfire tearing through Belgium’s largest nature reserve on Saturday, with the blaze described as the country’s worst in recent history.Residents were ordered to evacuate two nearby villages as the flames consumed a third of the High Fens, with local officials warning the fire – which had been burning since Friday – could reach homes.Water-bombing aircraft and helicopters were sent from across Europe to aid the firefighters working in the park near its eastern border with Germany.It was among a number of wildfires burning across Europe on…
Getty ImagesSomething mysterious has been happening in the world of secondhand books. Over the last few months independent booksellers have been observing a strange pattern of purchases which have seen scores of their novels being shipped to far-off warehouses.In a typical week, Stuart Manley, from Barter Books, in Northumberland, would sell two or three thousand books. But one recent single bulk order from a Canadian company equalled what he would expect to move in seven days.He says he has “never seen the like of this after 30 years in the second-hand book trade”.They aren’t sure what the final destination for…
NEW YORK (news agencies) — Bedbugs are sometimes called the vampires of the insect world — hiding during the day and coming out at night to feast on human blood. Generations of children have been told: “Sleep tight. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.”Well, bad news: Bedbug infestations are increasing. This is the time of year when they tend to be at their worst. And some scientists think the reviled pests might be capable of spreading an antibiotic-resistant infection called MRSA.For centuries, the bugs have horrified homeowners and occasionally panicked the public. That happened in New York City in 2018, when…
Getty ImagesRamsey, 22, is best known for their role as Lyanna Mormont in Game of ThronesBella Ramsey spent many teenage years working with adults so never really went through the moody, rebellious phase often associated with being a teenager.The British actor, who debuted in Game of Thrones aged 11 and uses they/them pronouns, says they had consciously decided not to behave like a stereotypical teenager after hearing criticisms from adults.”I was like, I’m not going to be that.”So when Sunny Dancer, a film about a summer camp for young people affected by cancer, gave Ramsey seven weeks to experience teenage…
Getty ImagesAmong those killed in the strike on the outskirts of Ansar were three children and two women, state media reportsEleven people have been killed in Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon, authorities say, in one of the deadliest days of attacks since an agreement aimed at reducing hostilities was announced in June.Lebanon’s prime minister said seven people were killed in a strike on a house on the outskirts of Ansar, 70km (43 miles) south of the capital, Beirut. State media reported three children and two women were among the dead.Israel’s Defense Forces (IDF) said it had killed a commander of…
Watch: Emergency services at scene of deadly Virginia State University shootingFive people have been injured, one critically, in a shooting at Virginia State University which involved multiple suspects, the university has said.Officers responded to the incident outside a residence halls at about 01:28 local time (05:28 GMT) on Saturday.Five individuals, who were all found with gunshot wounds, were taken to local hospitals. Four had injuries which were not deemed to be life-threatening, the university said.It was not immediately clear if any suspects have been arrested. The BBC has approached local police for comment.It added that Chesterfield County Police are leading…
Supplied by Kent TruscottKent Truscott (left) cancelled a planned trip to Texas and opted to explore Canada’s Atlantic provinces insteadPrior to US President Donald Trump’s re-election, Kent Truscott and his family, from London, Ontario, had taken multiple trips south of the border, including to California and most recently New York in 2023.But since late 2024, “my family and I have completely decided to boycott the United States”, he told BBC.That meant cancelling a trip last spring to Texas to watch the SpaceX Starship launch with his brother. The two had planned to fly down from Toronto, rent a car and…
Watch: Moment family rescued after 16 hours floating on jet ski off ThailandA French family was left stranded at sea for more than 16 hours overnight after their rented jet ski capsized off the coast of Thailand.A 50-year-old father and his young sons were left “pale” and “exhausted after swallowing a lot of seawater” before being rescued, local government official Amorn Chomchoey told AFP.All three were taken to hospital for checks but were discharged shortly afterwards, Chomchoey said.The father had rented the jet ski for a 45-minute ride on Koh Samui, one of Thailand’s most popular islands for tourists, at…
Getty ImagesSouth Korean President Lee Jae Myung said talks could yield “peaceful coexistence”South Korea’s president has proposed talks with its northern neighbour on officially ending the war between the two that is technically still active.Lee Jae Myung suggested a “multi-layered security system” to avoid flare-ups along the countries’ de-facto border, known as the demilitarised zone (DMZ), and offered to discuss practical ways of halting Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions.North Korea has continually tested ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, which has been perceived in Seoul and nearby Japan as an attempt to intimidate and project power.The conflict between the two occupants…
Sentinel-2, CopernicusThe impact of the heat has been noticeable in satellite imageryThe impact of this summer’s extreme temperatures on western Europe can now be seen from space after successive heatwaves since May.Satellite images examined by BBC Verify show shrunken glaciers, scorched areas left by wildfires, green fields turned arid and lower river levels.And some landmarks have been affected, too. The Palace of Versailles, south of the French capital Paris, appears as an island of trees surrounded by brown fields in these images.The immediate cause of the heatwaves has been persistent high-pressure weather systems bringing clear, sunny skies and allowing temperatures…